For most of this season, the Cardinals have been waiting on the return of their aces, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, to the rotation. Carp came back a couple weeks ago but was quickly sidelined with trouble in his pitching shoulder. With Carpenter back, the Cards had planned on hurrying Adam Wainwright back into the bullpen for the rest of year. Now that plan is in doubt with Carpenter's return in doubt. Here's the rub: Wainwright has looked very good in rehab since getting straightened out after a bad first start. He struck out seven batters in less than five innings on Saturday and his injury was a finger injury, which means that there's little concern over him re-injuring a shoulder or elbow in a hurried comeback. Given how well he pitched in the rotation both last year and this year, isn't he the guy the Cardinals should want in the rotation?
By the same token, doesn't the older pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery with shoulder trouble seem like the one that should be headed to the bullpen? This might all be a moot point if Carpenter's injury is serious enough to make him miss time, because Wainwright will definitely head to the rotation in that case. The Cardinals are going to need as many innings out of Wainwright as they can get if they want to catch the Brewers. That means putting him in the rotation is the only logical answer.
With a slowly widening deficit in the NL Wild Card race, it seems like the Cardinals' pesky contention might finally be coming to an end. This is at least the 10th time I've written that this year, but with a three game deficit in mid-August, things are looking bleaker. Even bleaker still? 
For the first time since Opening Day 2007,
With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.
With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.
With the Cubs, Brewers, and Phillies, all teams that the Cardinals may be competing with for a playoff spot, adding arms for a stretch run, the Cardinals are suddenly losing theoretical ground in the standings, even if their records says they're keeping pace. It's possible that they'll stay right in the race without a roster upgrade, but it just seems unlikely at this point. Fortunately for them, they do get to add a former Cy Young winner to their staff in the next few weeks.
With both the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs adding top of the rotation pitchers this week, it made you wonder what, if any, response the St. Louis Cardinals would have. After all, they're sandwiched between both teams right now in the NL Central and are currently atop the Wild Card standings. Well, even so, Cardinals general manager 